The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-09
THE UNIONS NEW ERA.
The Grand Spirit Of Nationality Devel-
oped by tho Democratic Farty.

HE ONION y W." cHAs
The Grand Spirit Of Nationality Devel-
oped by the Democratic Farty.
A new era has dawned in American
politics. 1t began with the Inaugural
ton of Grover Cleveland, and can only
be carried out to its fullest consumma-
ton by the continued asccndancy OF
the Democratic party.
The Republicans, in blind spirit
that seems to be almost fatalistic,
tenaciously cling to their old idols and
the new issues that are pressing for So
luton are persistently ignored. Like
an old man in his dotagc, this party
somn olently dwells in the past, pitiful-
ly discussing themes that have long
since passed out of the vital concerns
of the world. The war of the rebellion
is now gigantic memory; but with
them it seems to be present reality.
They go on reaffirming the principles
that were long since settled by the
war as if they were vital issues before
the country at the present day. They
talk of Confcderates and rebels as if
the country was to-day in the midst OF
an armed civil instruction. They
"point with pride" to their past. and
&C before the country on a platform
of principles which have long since
been settled and inscribed on the pages
of history as accomplished realities.
| The great Indictment the country
makes against the Republican party is
that it fails to put itself in harmony
with the forward movements OF the
age. It fails to recognize the powerful
spirit of nationality that has grown up
in these States since the war; For the
first eighty years Of our existence
we were little better than two separate
and antagonistic nations trying to ex-
list under one constitution. There was
steadily extending spirit Of disunion
that perpetually threatened the stabil-
ity of the Republic. There was no
true feeling of nationality. We were
not mly-established Republic, but
an experiment which the nations Of
the earth expected to go to pieces, and
be numbered with the other unsuccess-
full republics of the past. The war put
an end to the experimental era, de-
stroyed sectionalism, and above its
battle smoke lowered for the first time
the genius of an indestructible Amer
lean nationality.
The newly-born spirit of nationality
which. promises so much for the great
ness of our future, the Republican par
ty seems bent upon destroying. Thi
is very serious charge, but the fact
in the case bear it out. Its leaders ar
constantly ehdeavoring to revive tn
bitter feelings growing out Of the wal
: and to rcsurrcct the dead hates that
reunited nation has decreed shall b
buried forever. 1t seeks by all til
> arts of demagoglc rhetoric to kee
y !. alive the antagoaisms that divided til
y sections of this country for a perio
u of eighty years. 1t would suppress tn
: new and hopeful feeling o. America
. nationality, and replace it with the oil
: and dreadful hates of sectionalisn
u which kept this country mere con
: pact of discordant and unfratern;
). States through the long experiment;
- period of its history. To discourag
- =, or in any way thwart this GROWN
y y tendency of nationality is a crime nj
~ far remote from treason. The Repu|
:, lican party can not escape the indie
~ ment of being guilty Of this crime.
10 The Democratic party, on the oth'
= J., hand, is pledged to this new epoc
:" making idea Of universal American N
\ tionality. 1t sees that new impet'
: and vitalization has been given to tt
7 country by this lately-grown conce
!. ton, and that it marks a new e.
~ ~ in our history. The Republican part
- by its narrow and hate breeding Sc
:, tionalism, is fighting against the cour
~ of inevitable progress. 1t is in dire
~ ~ hostility to the ruling spirit of the az
r. 1t might as well fight against the sta
=. in their courses. Boston Globe.